The Descent of Brighid (redacted by Erynn R. Laurie)

The Descent of Brighid

(redacted by Erynn R. Laurie)

Every day and every night

That I say the descent of Brighid,

Daughter of Daghda

Mother of the Three Gods,

Anamchara,

Guide in darkness,

Ever-flaming star,

I shall not be killed, I shall not be harried,

I shall not be put in cell, I shall not be wounded,

Neither shall She leave me in forgetfulness.

No fire, no sun, no moon shall burn me,

No lake, no water, nor sea shall drown me,

No arrow of fairy nor dart of spirit shall wound me,

And I under the mantle of Holy Brighid.

Brighid to enfold me

Brighid to surround me

Brighid to comfort me

Brighid is my light and everlasting life,

Body to body, form to form, breath to breath,

Throughout all time and eternity.

While doing this Erynn flicks water to the cardinal directions, the sky and the earth, and draws the ringed cross on her breast.

Original: from Carmina Gadelica, Alexander Carmichael.

Image: Brooks's Comet of 902 (i.). (Drawn by W. R. Brooks.) Public Domain.